Bio
Njalikwa was born in Sydney, Australia in January 1966, his Zambian father and Australian mother met while his father was studying at the University of Western Australia.
Njalikwa's interest in ceramic art developed during his early years In Zambia surrounded by a rich collection of African art and craft and hands on experiences with local artists, immersed in a family with a deep interest in traditional and modern art and craft.
He was educated in Zambia and Western Australia and by the age of 14 was already showing an interest in his chosen medium clay. Njalikwa traces his ceramic talents to his great grandmother, Wajipha, a traditional Ngoni potter. After completing a diploma in Studio Ceramics in 1988 he and his wife Jacqueline Rodrigues opened Zinongo Gallery/Studio in South Fremantle.
Njalikwa returns regularly to Zambia to renew his connections with his artistic roots, essential, he explains, to the continuing evolution of his work. Njalikwa produces a wide range of ceramics pieces, he explores a range of forms and styles which make his work hard to compartmentalize. Njalikwa's Raku ware stretches the boundaries in the way he achieves brilliant colours and refined forms using a technique that is both difficult to control and master because of the stresses and strains it places on his pieces.
Njalikwa's stoneware pieces enable him to continue to explore the area between the strictly functional and purely decorative, as he creates a variety of vessels from the distinctive teapot to his latest creation the calabash series. The calabash form is a blend of Njalikwa's key influences: his love of the Australian ocean and his connection to Africa. Based on the calabash gourd form, these pieces hint at the form of the sea urchin shell like form. However the most delightful thing about the calabash form is not just its appearance but how comfortably it fits into the palm of the hand, making it a truly unique piece of ceramic design.
Njalikwa was born in Sydney, Australia in January 1966, his Zambian father and Australian mother met while his father was studying at the University of Western Australia.
Njalikwa's interest in ceramic art developed during his early years In Zambia surrounded by a rich collection of African art and craft and hands on experiences with local artists, immersed in a family with a deep interest in traditional and modern art and craft.
He was educated in Zambia and Western Australia and by the age of 14 was already showing an interest in his chosen medium clay. Njalikwa traces his ceramic talents to his great grandmother, Wajipha, a traditional Ngoni potter. After completing a diploma in Studio Ceramics in 1988 he and his wife Jacqueline Rodrigues opened Zinongo Gallery/Studio in South Fremantle.
Njalikwa returns regularly to Zambia to renew his connections with his artistic roots, essential, he explains, to the continuing evolution of his work. Njalikwa produces a wide range of ceramics pieces, he explores a range of forms and styles which make his work hard to compartmentalize. Njalikwa's Raku ware stretches the boundaries in the way he achieves brilliant colours and refined forms using a technique that is both difficult to control and master because of the stresses and strains it places on his pieces.
Njalikwa's stoneware pieces enable him to continue to explore the area between the strictly functional and purely decorative, as he creates a variety of vessels from the distinctive teapot to his latest creation the calabash series. The calabash form is a blend of Njalikwa's key influences: his love of the Australian ocean and his connection to Africa. Based on the calabash gourd form, these pieces hint at the form of the sea urchin shell like form. However the most delightful thing about the calabash form is not just its appearance but how comfortably it fits into the palm of the hand, making it a truly unique piece of ceramic design.
C.V
Curriculum Vitae
Njalikwa CHONGWE (b 1966 Sydney,Australia)
zinongo@iinet.net.au (08)93354227
1984- 1987 Diploma Studio Ceramics, Perth Technical College
1988 Opened Zinongo Studio / Gallery
1988 - 2013 Ceramic arts practitioner at Zinongo Studio / Gallery
EXHIBITIONS
2018 Materiality Mundaring Arts Centre
2015 The Merging Cultures Project Twaya Gallery Lusaka
2014 The Merging Cultures Project, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park
2013 Ceramics Arts Association of W.A(CAAWA) Selective Heathcote Gallery
A Common Ground Mundaring Arts Centre
2012 CAAWA Zig Zag Gallery, Perth College (PC) Art Show, Potober Demonstrators Central TAFE Perth
2011 CAAWA Selective Heathcote Gallery, The Old Bakery on Eighth Annual
2010 CAAWA Selective Central Tafe, The Old Bakery on Eighth Annual, St Bernard's Art Show Kojonup
2009 CAAWA Selective Ellenbrook Gallery, Creative Tides Iona College, The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery Annual
2008 Twaya Gallery Lusaka Zambia, CAAWA Selective Gallows Gallery, St Bernard's Art Show Kojonup, Framed The Darwin Gallery Carnival, Iona Art Show, PC Art Show
2007 Twaya Gallery Lusaka Zambia, CAAWA Selective Gallows Gallery, The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery Annual.
2006 CAAWA Selective Exhibition Gallows Gallery, Silky Pear Gallery Kalgoorlie, The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery Annual.
l2004 CAAWA Gallows Gallery.
2003 Teapot exhibition The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery
2002 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
2002 Teapot exhibition The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery.
2002 Traditional Reflections Framed The Darwin Gallery.
2001 Refugee Celebration Moore’s Building Fremantle
2000 Leighton Beach Action Group Exhibition Moores Building Fremantle.
2000 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1999 Kidogo Gallery Fremantle African Artists Exhibition.
1999 Opening of Centrepiece Gallery Fremantle Arts Centre.
1999 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1998 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1997 Flinders University African Heritage Exhibition Adelaide.
1996 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1996 Choma Muesum combined exhibition with Zambian potters.
1994 Monsoon Gallery Broome.
1994 Zintu Zanyumba Lusaka
1993 Artsplace Gallery Perth / Blaxland Gallery Festival of Perth Event.
1992 African Heritage Hong Kong.
1992 Esplanade Extravaganza Middleton Beach Albany
1991 Zintu Zambia combined exhibition with Patrick Mweemba and Martha Zulu.
1991 Solo exhibition Fremantle Arts Centre.
1990 Zinongo Gallery Christmas Show.
1988 Zinongo Gallery Opening.
1987 Graduating Exhibition Perth Concert Hall.
GRANTS / AWARDS
2018 -2013 Ceramics Technician North Metropolitan l TAFE Western Australia.
2018 - 2014 Ceramics Short Course Lecturer North Metropolitan TAFE
2015 CAAWA Selective Exhibition: Judges Award
2014 DCA West Australia Development Grant for The Merging Cultures Project
2013 CAAWA Selective Exhibition: Judges Award
2011 - 2012 CAAWA Selective Exhibition Highly Commended
2011 - 2013 Vice President of the CAAWA
2008 Lechwe Trust acquisition (Zambia)
2007 ARTSWA Artflight
WORKSHOPS
2012 Potober Central TAFE, Thornlie PS
2008 Zambian Visual Arts Council
1999 Workshop with arts program Beaconsfield Primary School
1995 Artist in residence John Curtin Senior High School.
1994 Artist in residence East Fremantle Primary School.
1991 Workshops for Zambian potters with the Zambia National Visual Arts Council .
1988-1993 Adult education ceramics lecturer.
REGULARLY REPRESENTED AT: Zinongo Gallery, Found Fremantle Arts Centre, Aspects of Kings Park, Gallows Gallery.
Njalikwa CHONGWE (b 1966 Sydney,Australia)
zinongo@iinet.net.au (08)93354227
1984- 1987 Diploma Studio Ceramics, Perth Technical College
1988 Opened Zinongo Studio / Gallery
1988 - 2013 Ceramic arts practitioner at Zinongo Studio / Gallery
EXHIBITIONS
2018 Materiality Mundaring Arts Centre
2015 The Merging Cultures Project Twaya Gallery Lusaka
2014 The Merging Cultures Project, Gallows Gallery, Mosman Park
2013 Ceramics Arts Association of W.A(CAAWA) Selective Heathcote Gallery
A Common Ground Mundaring Arts Centre
2012 CAAWA Zig Zag Gallery, Perth College (PC) Art Show, Potober Demonstrators Central TAFE Perth
2011 CAAWA Selective Heathcote Gallery, The Old Bakery on Eighth Annual
2010 CAAWA Selective Central Tafe, The Old Bakery on Eighth Annual, St Bernard's Art Show Kojonup
2009 CAAWA Selective Ellenbrook Gallery, Creative Tides Iona College, The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery Annual
2008 Twaya Gallery Lusaka Zambia, CAAWA Selective Gallows Gallery, St Bernard's Art Show Kojonup, Framed The Darwin Gallery Carnival, Iona Art Show, PC Art Show
2007 Twaya Gallery Lusaka Zambia, CAAWA Selective Gallows Gallery, The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery Annual.
2006 CAAWA Selective Exhibition Gallows Gallery, Silky Pear Gallery Kalgoorlie, The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery Annual.
l2004 CAAWA Gallows Gallery.
2003 Teapot exhibition The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery
2002 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
2002 Teapot exhibition The Old Bakery on Eighth Gallery.
2002 Traditional Reflections Framed The Darwin Gallery.
2001 Refugee Celebration Moore’s Building Fremantle
2000 Leighton Beach Action Group Exhibition Moores Building Fremantle.
2000 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1999 Kidogo Gallery Fremantle African Artists Exhibition.
1999 Opening of Centrepiece Gallery Fremantle Arts Centre.
1999 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1998 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1997 Flinders University African Heritage Exhibition Adelaide.
1996 Kojonup St Bernard's Art Show.
1996 Choma Muesum combined exhibition with Zambian potters.
1994 Monsoon Gallery Broome.
1994 Zintu Zanyumba Lusaka
1993 Artsplace Gallery Perth / Blaxland Gallery Festival of Perth Event.
1992 African Heritage Hong Kong.
1992 Esplanade Extravaganza Middleton Beach Albany
1991 Zintu Zambia combined exhibition with Patrick Mweemba and Martha Zulu.
1991 Solo exhibition Fremantle Arts Centre.
1990 Zinongo Gallery Christmas Show.
1988 Zinongo Gallery Opening.
1987 Graduating Exhibition Perth Concert Hall.
GRANTS / AWARDS
2018 -2013 Ceramics Technician North Metropolitan l TAFE Western Australia.
2018 - 2014 Ceramics Short Course Lecturer North Metropolitan TAFE
2015 CAAWA Selective Exhibition: Judges Award
2014 DCA West Australia Development Grant for The Merging Cultures Project
2013 CAAWA Selective Exhibition: Judges Award
2011 - 2012 CAAWA Selective Exhibition Highly Commended
2011 - 2013 Vice President of the CAAWA
2008 Lechwe Trust acquisition (Zambia)
2007 ARTSWA Artflight
WORKSHOPS
2012 Potober Central TAFE, Thornlie PS
2008 Zambian Visual Arts Council
1999 Workshop with arts program Beaconsfield Primary School
1995 Artist in residence John Curtin Senior High School.
1994 Artist in residence East Fremantle Primary School.
1991 Workshops for Zambian potters with the Zambia National Visual Arts Council .
1988-1993 Adult education ceramics lecturer.
REGULARLY REPRESENTED AT: Zinongo Gallery, Found Fremantle Arts Centre, Aspects of Kings Park, Gallows Gallery.